The Best Chinese Food in San Francisco
From a Michelin-starred modern-Cantonese room on the edge of Chinatown to the city's great dim sum halls and a fiery Sichuan benchmark — where to eat Chinese in SF.
San Francisco has one of the deepest Chinese dining cultures in America, from a century-old Chinatown to the Cantonese seafood palaces of the Richmond — led by Mister Jiu's, the one-Michelin-star modern-Cantonese room on the edge of Chinatown. The picks below span fine dining, dim sum, and Sichuan, each scored and verified by Dim Hour.
A note on the range: "Chinese food" in San Francisco means several distinct traditions — Cantonese (the dim sum halls and seafood houses), Sichuan (numbing chili heat), and the modern Chinese-American kitchens reinterpreting both. The list below covers all three, from a Michelin-starred room to walk-in neighborhood favorites.
Mister Jiu's
The flagship. Mister Jiu's is a one-Michelin-star modern-Cantonese room above Chinatown, where chef Brandon Jew — a James Beard winner — works sourdough scallion pancakes, mapo tofu lasagna, and a whole roasted duck you order ahead. The special-occasion pick. Book on Resy.
Yank Sing
The dim sum benchmark. Yank Sing, a Michelin Bib Gourmand, runs more than 100 rotating varieties — the Peking duck, char siu bao, and pork soup dumplings are the table-setters, with har gao close behind. Book on OpenTable.
Z & Y Restaurant
The Sichuan reference point in Chinatown and a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Z & Y's fish filet in flaming chili oil is the house signature; the tea-smoked duck, Kung Pao chicken, and tan tan noodles round out the heat. Walk-in.
Dragon Beaux
The Outer Richmond Cantonese seafood-and-dim-sum palace, from a James Beard-recognized restaurateur. Dragon Beaux's rainbow soup dumplings, sea bass dumplings, and baked BBQ-pork puff pastry are the orders; the hot pot is the destination dinner.
San Tung
The Inner Sunset institution famous for one dish above all: the dry-fried chicken wings, glazed and addictive. San Tung's black-bean-sauce noodles and shrimp-and-chive dumplings fill out a no-frills, perpetually-packed room. Walk-in; expect a wait.
What is the best Chinese restaurant in San Francisco?
Is there a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in San Francisco?
Where is the best dim sum in San Francisco?
Where can I get Sichuan food in San Francisco?
What should I order for Chinese food in SF?
How expensive is Chinese food in San Francisco?
How many San Francisco restaurants does Dim Hour cover?
Dim Hour scores every restaurant on food, service, ambiance, and value, and verifies every listing. This guide is updated as the catalog changes. Explore all San Francisco restaurants →